Wild strawberries, wild orchids and tanned bottoms

Wild strawberries

Sunday 1^st July 2012 and 3 out of 4 of the Vale Venturers Team set off for their final training walk prior to the “Big Event”.  About 5 minutes before our scheduled departure time, the heavens opened, meaning that we headed off along the side of the ranges in full waterproofs, two dogs in tow.  En route, we came across some wild strawberries and orchids, which were beautiful.

We reached the lake and then continued following the side of the ranges, with Sue (navigational expert) claiming that she was sure we could turn right towards Pirbright and then skirt back towards a farm we have previously passed.   

Checking the map (again!)

 A quick map-check later, we took the correct path (albeit rather boggy) and worked our way back towards the lake.  The weather couldn’t seem to make its mind up, and it kept raining, stopping, raining, stopping….!  And we kept donning our waterproofs, stripping off…donning our waterproofs, stripping off…luckily there were no soldiers around to witness these stripteases!  We have decided that a fake tan may be necessary before we tackle the actual trail in 2 weeks’ time!

Henley Park Lake

Eventually, several map checks later, we arrived at the lake for our lunch stop.  Minestrone soup, tuna sandwiches, sour cream and onion crisps and cashew nuts provided well needed sustenance, before we began the trek home.  The lake itself was beautiful, with water lilies in bud.  Barney even went for his first ever swim (pushed in by Pebbles) and we all got drenched when the dogs decided to shake off excess water all over us!  Thanks dogs!

Ready for the challenge!

The walk home was good-humoured, discussing the relative merits of Ann Summers parties (!) and we were pleased to have covered almost twelve miles in 3 hours 22, despite the intermittent rain, one dodgy foot and two overly energetic dogs (excluding stops!)  Go Vale Venturers!!!